SLU Center for Environmental Sciences

Saint Louis University's Center for Environmental Science focuses on public education,
outreach, and research on how human activities are changing the Earth's atmosphere
and how these atmospheric changes are impacting the biological environment.

The Center focuses on rising tropospheric ozone levels. Due to fossil fuel burning,
the amount of background ozone in the air has risen since the beginning of the industrial
revolution. While ozone is essential in the stratosphere to protect us from harmful
ultraviolet radiation, it is a toxic chemical and, when close to Earth, is harmful
to people and plants.

In the Midwestern U.S. and many other parts of the world, background levels of ozone
now typically exceed concentrations that are damaging to vegetation on most days during
the growing season. This has consequences for natural ecosystems and agriculture.

St. Louis Ozone Gardens

The desire to educate the public about rising background ozone levels led SLU's Center
for Environmental Sciences to create a network of ozone gardens around the St. Louis
metropolitan area.

The plants growing in these living exhibits are all sensitive to ozone air pollution.
Their leaves show damage if ozone levels are high. Because these plants monitor the
health of their environment, they are called "bioindicator" plants.

SLU staff, students, and volunteers collect data on the amounts of ozone leaf injury
throughout the growing season. There is also an ozone (O3) monitor and a weather station
at each site recording conditions every 15 minutes.

The center partners with organizations throughout the bi-state area including the
Saint Louis Science Center, the Missouri Botanical Garden, NASA AQAST, the United
Congregations of the Metro East, the Madison County Green Schools Program, Grant's
Farm, and Southwestern Illinois College-Belleville.

Environmental Protection Agency Grants

Environmental Education: The Center for Environmental Sciences in partnership with the Missouri Botanical
Garden received an EPA Region 7 Environmental Education Grant. This grant funded an
expansion of the ozone garden concept with the construction of an indoor "ozone chamber"
and related Climate Science and Stewardship educational activities.

Environmental Justice: A group of residents working through the United Congregations of the Metro East
(UMC) received an EPA Environmental Justice grant award to fund air pollution education
in Granite City, IL as part of the Cleaner, Greener Granite City project. The funding
helped install the ozone garden with monitoring equipment at the fire station in west
Granite City. They also brought the EPA's Air Quality Flag Program to Granite City
schools and community buildings.